One man died and another suffered serious, life-threatening injuries in a head-on crash Thursday on Brunswick Avenue in Gardiner.
Shortly after 5 p.m. the two-vehicle collision was reported on Brunswick Avenue, between Marston and Old Brunswick roads.
Gardiner police Chief Todd Pilsbury said initial reports indicated one of the vehicles crossed the centerline of Brunswick Avenue, which is also U.S. Route 201, and struck the other vehicle head-on.
Scott Sawtelle, 64, of Yarmouth was driving south on Brunswick Avenue in a Honda CRV when he was struck head-on. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
James Lane, 41, of New Vineyard was driving north in a Dodge Ram pickup when he apparently crossed the centerline striking Sawtelle, police said. Lane was taken by Gardiner Rescue to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.
Pilsbury said the crash is being reconstructed by Maine State Police and remains under investigation.
Traffic was shut down in both directions and routed around the site of the crash, for nearly three hours.
A Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office deputy assisted at the scene.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less